My Mother

Happy Mother's Day! Some of you know my mom and some of you don't. For those of you who don't, let me tell you a little bit about her. I have always believed that one of my greatest blessings in this life is my mother. In my eyes, she is near perfect. To follow suit with my last two blog entries I will tell you a few of my favorite things about my mother.

She always knows the right thing to say and when to say it. When I was studying for a huge final at BYU and stressing about it, I remember my mother said, "Karen, what will this test matter 10 years from now?" It hasn't even been 10 years and I can't even tell you what that final was about, but I can remember my mother's words. I think about them often in my life. What truly is important? She is the first one I call when I need advice.

She has a wonderful sense of humor. My mother made my lunch everyday for school. On April fools day I remember finding Saran wrap in the middle of my peanut butter and jelly sandwich. When my teenage brother wouldn't stop passing gas I distinctly remember her sitting on him and putting a make shift cloth diaper on him and making him wear it for several hours.

She is selfless and always serving others. Do I need to say more than the fact that she raised 9 children! When I asked her if she would do it all over again, she told me she would have had 10 more if she could have. When I think of her I remember all the things I saw her do for others. She was always helping neighbors, church friends, anyone who needed her. She made mittens to sell, but I only remember seeing her give them away to someone who needed them.

She knows how to do everything. She helped me grow the winning sunflower contest, taught me how to quilt, made my high school dance dresses, and deboned the best chicken man for science class.

She goes above and beyond to make me happy. When I was in high school my dad wanted me to ride the bus to school. To me this meant utter embarrassment. My mother understood that. I don't know how many times she purposely helped me miss that bus so I could either get a ride to school or drive myself. When I was 16 or so I was pulling the van out of the garage and in order to try to stay on the shoveled part of the driveway I turned the van too sharp and took off the front left bumper. My dad was out of town when it happened. He came home and saw it when I had a group of friends over. I distinctly remember her telling my dad it was her that did it so he wouldn't get upset with me in front of my friends. I remember him telling her to leave the cars in the driveway from now on and let him pull them in and out. She agreed with him completely. Needless to say, I told my dad the truth the next day in the middle of church.

She trusted me. She was the kind of parent who taught me what was right and what was wrong and then let me make my own choices. Because of her trust I never wanted to disappoint her. I still find myself trying to please her.

She always supported me and protected me. I did cross country and track during high school. I can still hear my mother yelling, "Run Karen Run." I don't remember my mother ever missing a race. I was awful at cross country, but she never seemed to care. I had a weekly babysitting job about a mile away from my school. I was expected to walk to the home after school. My mother didn't like the fact that I had to cross a busy street to get there. She picked me up from school and dropped me off behind the house so the family I babysat for wouldn't see. She drove the car slowly behind me when I went running to make sure I was okay. She met me at work at the end of the night so I wouldn't have to walk to the car in the dark alone.

She taught me how to work and the value work brings to life. Every Saturday morning I would wake up to find my to do list for the day.

I was attached to my mother's hip. Maybe that is where Ben and Kate get it from. I couldn't last the night at a sleepover without missing my mom and having to have her come get me (even when Ruth was there). I couldn't go to sleep until she tucked me in.

I never understood all my mother did for me or how much she loved me until I had kids of my own. I probably still don't comprehend it yet. I love my mom. More than she will ever know. I wish everyone could have her for a mother. I hope to grow up to be just like her someday.